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The Role of VEGF Receptors as Molecular Target in Nuclear Medicine for Cancer Diagnosis and Combination Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13051072. [PMID: 33802353 PMCID: PMC7959315 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The rapid development of diagnostic and therapeutic methods of the cancer treatment causes that these diseases are becoming better known and the fight against them is more and more effective. Substantial contribution in this development has nuclear medicine that enables very early cancer diagnosis and early start of the so-called targeted therapy. This therapeutic concept compared to the currently used chemotherapy, causes much fewer undesirable side effects, due to targeting a specific lesion in the body. This review article discusses the possible applications of radionuclide-labelled tracers (peptides, antibodies or synthetic organic molecules) that can visualise cancer cells through pathological blood vessel system in close tumour microenvironment. Hence, at a very early step of oncological disease, targeted therapy can involve in tumour formation and growth. Abstract One approach to anticancer treatment is targeted anti-angiogenic therapy (AAT) based on prevention of blood vessel formation around the developing cancer cells. It is known that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs) play a pivotal role in angiogenesis process; hence, application of angiogenesis inhibitors can be an effective approach in anticancer combination therapeutic strategies. Currently, several types of molecules have been utilised in targeted VEGF/VEGFR anticancer therapy, including human VEGF ligands themselves and their derivatives, anti-VEGF or anti-VEGFR monoclonal antibodies, VEGF binding peptides and small molecular inhibitors of VEGFR tyrosine kinases. These molecules labelled with diagnostic or therapeutic radionuclides can become, respectively, diagnostic or therapeutic receptor radiopharmaceuticals. In targeted anti-angiogenic therapy, diagnostic radioagents play a unique role, allowing the determination of the emerging tumour, to monitor the course of treatment, to predict the treatment outcomes and, first of all, to refer patients for AAT. This review provides an overview of design, synthesis and study of radiolabelled VEGF/VEGFR targeting and imaging agents to date. Additionally, we will briefly discuss their physicochemical properties and possible application in combination targeted radionuclide tumour therapy.
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Wicker CA, Hunt BG, Krishnan S, Aziz K, Parajuli S, Palackdharry S, Elaban WR, Wise-Draper TM, Mills GB, Waltz SE, Takiar V. Glutaminase inhibition with telaglenastat (CB-839) improves treatment response in combination with ionizing radiation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma models. Cancer Lett 2021; 502:180-188. [PMID: 33450358 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.12.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The efficacy of ionizing radiation (IR) for head and neck cancer squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is limited by poorly understood mechanisms of adaptive radioresistance. Elevated glutaminase gene expression is linked to significantly reduced survival (p < 0.03). The glutaminase inhibitor, telaglenastat (CB-839), has been tested in Phase I/II cancer trials and is well tolerated by patients. This study investigated if telaglenastat enhances the cellular response to IR in HNSCC models. Using three human HNSCC cell lines and two xenograft mouse models, we examined telaglenastat's effects on radiation sensitivity. IR and telaglenastat combinatorial treatment reduced cell survival (p ≤ 0.05), spheroid size (p ≤ 0.0001) and tumor growth in CAL-27 xenograft bearing mice relative to vehicle (p ≤ 0.01), telaglenastat (p ≤ 0.05) or IR (p ≤ 0.01) monotherapy. Telaglenastat significantly reduced the Oxygen Consumption Rate/Extracellular Acidification Rate ratio in CAL-27 and HN5 cells in the presence of glucose and glutamine (p ≤ 0.0001). Telaglenastat increased oxidative stress and DNA damage in irradiated CAL-27 cells. These data suggest that combination treatment with IR and telaglenastat leads to an enhanced anti-tumor response. This pre-clinical data, combined with the established safety of telaglenastat justifies further investigation for the combination in HNSCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina A Wicker
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Brian G Hunt
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Sunil Krishnan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Kathryn Aziz
- Functional Proteomics RPPA Core Facility, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shobha Parajuli
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Sarah Palackdharry
- University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - William R Elaban
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Trisha M Wise-Draper
- Department of Internal Medicine Division of Hematology Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Gordon B Mills
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Susan E Waltz
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Research Service, Cincinnati Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Vinita Takiar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Research Service, Cincinnati Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Abstract
In vivo molecular imaging is a powerful tool to analyze the human body. Precision medicine is receiving high attention these days, and molecular imaging plays an important role as companion diagnostics in precision medicine. Nuclear imaging with PET or SPECT and optical imaging technologies are used for in vivo molecular imaging. Nuclear imaging is superior for quantitative imaging, and whole-body analysis is possible even for humans. Optical imaging is superior due to its ease of use, and highly targeted specific imaging is possible with activatable agents. However, with optical imaging using fluorescence, it is difficult to obtain a signal from deep tissue and quantitation is difficult due to the attenuation and scattering of the fluorescent signal. Recently, to overcome these issues, optoacoustic imaging has been used in in vivo imaging. In this article, we review in vivo molecular imaging with nuclear and optical imaging and discuss their utility for precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikako Ogawa
- Laboratory for Bioanalysis and Molecular Imaging, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University.,JST, PRESTO
| | - Hideo Takakura
- Laboratory for Bioanalysis and Molecular Imaging, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University
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